Today's Beginning

Romans 10:17 (NLT), "So faith comes from hearing, that is hearing the Good News about Christ."  Wednesday... We are always looking for good news. And in this world of TV and the Internet it is really hard to find good news. It really is. But Paul writes in his letter to the Romans in 10:17 (NLT), "So faith comes from hearing, that is hearing the Good News about Christ." But even so much of what is being shared is not Good News. Now Pauls says in verse 11 (AMP), "For the Scripture says, 'WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM [whoever adheres to, trusts in and relies on Him] WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED [in his expectations.]" Yes that is Good News but so many have not heard that. In verse 2 (NLT) Paul says about the children of Israel and probably a lot of us, "I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal." So many have not heard the Good News. Verse 3 says, "For they don't understand God's way of making people right with hi...

Proverbs 28:25b (AMP), "But he who trusts in the LORD will be blessed and prosper." Yes, trusting in the LORD is the way to live. Tuesday... There are different ways to live. But not all of them work at least in the long haul. Proverbs 28:25b (AMP) says, "But he who trusts in the LORD will be blessed and prosper." Yes, trusting in the LORD is the way to live. Now verse 26 says, "He who trusts confidently in his own heart is a [dull, thickheaded] fool, but he who walks in [skillful and godly] wisdom will be rescued." The NIV says, "Those who trust in their own insight are foolish, but anyone who walks in wisdom is safe." And too many times we take the path of foolishness instead of the path of safety. David writes in Psalm 28:7 (AMP), "The LORD is my strength and my [impenetrabile] shield; My heart trusts [with unwavering confidence] in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I shall thank Him and praise Hi...

Psalm 27:13 (NLV), "Yet I am confident I will see the LORD's goodness while I am here in the land of the living." Monday... So where do we get confidence? How is this day, this week looking? Are you confident that you can handle whatever comes your way? Yes, there can be so many things that come into our lives and blow away our confidence. David says in Psalm 27:3a, "Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid." Can we say that today? There is a lot of unrest in our world. Verse 10a says, "Even if my father and mother abandon me." A lot of that is going around too. But David says in verse 13a, "Yet I am confident." Verse 3 says, "Though a mighty army surround me, my heart will not be afraid, Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident." Verse 10 says, "Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will hold me close." And verse 13 says, "Yet I am confident I will see the LORD's goodness w...

Proverbs 24:3-4 (NLT), "A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables." Friday... Our home is such an important place. It really is. Proverbs 24:3-4 (NLT) says, "A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables." Now the Amplified Bible amplifies it. It says, "Through [skillful and godly] wisdom a house [a life, a home, a family] is built, and by understanding it is established [on a sound and good foundation], and by knowledge its rooms are filled with precious and pleasant riches." Yes, good families, lives and homes do not just happen. They are built by skillful and godly wisdom, by understanding and they are established on a sound and good foundation and by knowledge. Yes, they do not just happen. Now verse 1 gives us some problems that destroy ...

Proverbs 23:4 (NLT), "Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit." Thursday... Yes, there are choices. In so many ways our desires, our wants controls us. Even at this age that I am living my desire strives to control me. Do you want to get rich? Oh if I had all that money I know I would be happy, I would be at peace. Even in our older age we need need need or it is better to say we want want want. But I am finding there is another choice that makes all the difference and that is wisdom. Now a big portion of the Proverbs in the Old Testament of the Bible was written by the wisest man who ever lived and he also was the wealthiest. Chapter 1:1-4 says, "These are the proverbs of Solomon, David's son, king of Israel. Their purpose is to teach wisdom and discipline. to help them understand the insights of the wise. Their purpose is to teach to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. The...

  Romans 5:5a (NLT), "And this hope will not lead to disappointment." Wednesday... Now this hope doesn't disappoint. There can be so much out there that we hope for. What is your major hope for today? What is the major hope for your life? Did you wake up today with a hope? I had a guy at my coffee shop say they liked my Los Angeles Dodgers hat. I got two new ones for my birthday. That is all I ever hope for so I am always rewarded. Now that of course is not a major hope. What if my kids bought me something else? I would be glad for whatever it is because my kids got it for me. But I am glad to get a new Dodgers hat. Sometimes we are very disappointed when we don't get what we hope for. A lot of people were really disappointed when their soccer team didn't win the World Cup. Only one nation got what they hoped for. There were a lot of tears at the end of that last match. The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans says something that is really encouraging. In Roma...

  Proverbs 21:31 (NLT) says, "The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance and victory belong to the LORD." Tuesday... Do we really believe? Oh, we may really believe in our self and our abilities and we know that we will be victorious but is that really the truth? We may have real faith in us but is that really enough? Now Proverbs 21:31 (NLT) gives another thought. It says, "The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance and victory belong to the LORD." Wait a minute, we are prepared, we have what it takes so we will be victorious. And so many really believe that? Now the proverb right before this, verse 30 says, "There is no [human]wisdom or understanding or counsel [that can prevail] against the LORD." None! Yes the answer to, do we really believe in ourselves may be true but is that really enough? The NLT says verse 30 this way, "No human wisdom or understanding or plan can stand against the LORD." And that is ...